A body pulled from Corte Madera Creek on Monday night was that of a Novato man who jumped into the water last month to flee police, authorities confirmed Tuesday.

Anthony Donelson, 23, had been missing since Dec. 24, when police stopped him on suspicion of drunken driving in Ross. Donelson jumped into the rain-swollen creek, and police followed him from the bank as he swam away and vanished under water.

Police, sheriff's deputies and firefighters searched for him most of the day, then returned several days later to conduct another search with rafts and sonar equipment.

On Monday evening, authorities received a report of a body in the creek behind Kent Middle School in Kentfield, said sheriff's Lt. Doug Pittman. The body was floating just under the surface of the water, he said.

A sheriff's dive team went into the creek about 45 minutes later and brought the remains to shore at about 8 p.m. The coroner's division took custody of the remains and confirmed the identity as Donelson.

The cause of death remains under investigation.

Donelson, whose birthday is Jan. 20, grew up in Fairfax and San Anselmo and graduated from Sir Francis Drake High School, where he played basketball. He was enrolled at College of Marin, friends said.